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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Chris Watson & James Quinlan

BT Sport pundits give Nottingham Forest, Everton, Leeds and Leicester relegation predictions

Nottingham Forest have a chance to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion at the City Ground later (7.30pm kick-off).

The Reds go into the game second from bottom and two points adrift of safety, after Leicester City drew 1-1 at Leeds United on Tuesday night. But that means Steve Cooper's side now have a game in hand on both of those teams who are hovering just above the bottom three.

Forest are three points ahead of bottom-of-the-table Southampton and one behind third-bottom Everton. They take on a Brighton side who are eighth and enjoying a fine campaign but had to come through a gruelling FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday, which ultimately ended in a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out defeat for the Seagulls.

READ MORE: Brighton boss makes Nottingham Forest claim after Man Utd heartbreak

READ MORE: Pundits disagree in Nottingham Forest vs Brighton predictions

After the Leeds vs Leicester match, BT Sport pundits Robbie Savage, Jermaine Beckford and Michael Owen gave their thoughts on the battle to beat the drop as it stands.

Former Leicester and Derby County midfielder Savage said: "Ian Darke in commentary said the number of points will be 35 as the total, so looking at that, it would suggest Bournemouth need one more win. I would still say it’s the bottom five. Everton have got some tough games but I just think Sean Dyche’s experience will get them out of it, so I’m going to go with Southampton, Forest and I’m still gonna stick with Leeds."

Asked who will go down, former Leeds striker Beckford replied: "I don’t know. Honestly, it could be anyone out of the bottom five or six, possibly even seven, depending on how the other teams get on. Anything can happen in football and that’s the amazing thing about what we’re seeing at the moment.

"For a neutral it’s great because all of these teams at the bottom, sooner or later, are gonna cross paths with each other and those are gonna be massive, massive opportunities where they have to take them with both hands, like nobody took today’s one. I’m gonna sit on the fence and say I don’t really know."

Former Liverpool and Manchester United striker Owen said: "There’s that many big games. Tonight was huge, and Bournemouth-Leeds. Bournemouth, are they out of it? Probably not, they need one more, so if Leeds go away and win there then all of a sudden Bournemouth are right back in it.

"Tottenham are beatable, and obviously here it would be an unbelievable atmosphere if they need to win their last game. Newcastle, that’s a tough one, Man City. They have got winnable games, Leeds. The top one (vs Bournemouth) and the bottom two (against West Ham and Tottenham) are probably the ones they can get points. Listen, it’s going to be very difficult, I think Leeds are in a bit of trouble."

Focusing on the Foxes, Savage added: "From those remaining games, Liverpool at home, Leicester do well against them, and West Ham at home on the last day. Two wins at home for Leicester I think will keep them up."

What do you think? Will Forest stay up? Let us know in the comments section.

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